Owens Community College's First-Generation College Celebration
November 8
2021 First-Generation College Celebration
The Owens Community College TRIO SSS program will continue to organize an annual First Gen Student Celebration. This year Owens Community College is having a week-long celebration, November 1st- 8th, 2021 themed “There is POWER in OUR voice”. A collaborative week long campus celebration that will include offices like The Fast Track Program, Academic Advising, The Owens Library, the Disability Resource Center, Veterans Services, Counseling Services, the Center for Campus and Community Connections, and Owens OutComm Student Media Center. As a cap to the week Owens Community College TRIO SSS will be partnering with the TRIO SSS / Ronald E. McNair Scholars programs at The University of Toledo, Lourdes University, Northwest State University, and Bowling Green State University to host a student lead first gen student symposium that will be hosted on the campus of the University of Toledo.
Additional information about the Owens Community College First Generation College Student Celebration can be found here.
Review our Schedule of First Gen events.
Watch our First Gen Celebration Promo Video.
2020 First-Generation College Celebration
Owens Community College (OCC) will provide a week-long celebration of first-gen college students on the OCC campus. November 9th - November 13th, 2020 OCC will experience the "First Gen Takeover". Students, faculty, and staff are all in to support OCC first-gen students. The OCC week-long celebration is a collaboration with OCC offices that include TRIO Student Support Services, Counseling Services, The Disability Resource Center, Academic Advising, Veterans Services, The Fast Track Program, The Center for Campus and Community Connections, Career and Transfer Services, and The Owens Community College Foundation.
The entire week faculty and staff who have self identified as a first-gen students or a first-gen student advocate will display a small logo of support in their email signature line. Faculty and staff who identify as an advocate will have their names, positions, and email addresses published on the first-gen website as a first-gen student advocate.
Each day OCC will highlight a member of the OCC community that is first-gen. Each day one video and one photo will be released via the official Owens Community College social media platforms. Videos will be available the week of November 9th on the Owens Community College YouTube Channel at OwensCommCollege. Info graphics will be released each day highlighting national first-gen student data as well as OCC-specific first-gen student data.
A week full of virtual events have been planned to include topics like mental health, dealing with impostor syndrome, veterans services and support, tools for the unique learner, career development and planning, and a session designed just for faculty and staff on advocating for first-gen students. Event details can be found on the OCC first-gen website here. All virtual sessions will be recorded and available for the OCC community via the first-gen website following the completion of the First Gen Takeover week.
The final event of the week will include a virtual presentation and discussion lead by Dr. Ashley Benson, associate dean of students at the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH. This session is titled: The Takeover Continues–Recruiting, Supporting, Empowering, and Advocating for First-gen Students. Dr. Benson's passion for working with first-gen students has grown into a lifelong commitment toward improving the support and experiences of first-generation college students.This final event will be an interactive discussion on how OCC can continue to provide pathways to success for first-gen students.
OCC students who attend any of the planned workshops or events and complete the online evaluation will be entered into a drawing for a First-gen Express Kit. First-gen Express kits include an OCC First-gen Student t-shirt (provided by funding from the Owens Community College Foundation), and OCC First-gen Student folder, OCC First-gen Student drawstring backpack, and additional OCC items. Students can only receive one First-gen Express Kit.
TRIO Student Support Services created several short marketing video clips shared on OCC TRIO SSS social media:
The Takeover Teaser Video
Mission Impostor: Defeating Self-Doubt and Building Confidence
The Blueprint: Trailblazing a Path to Success
Essential Words: Letters of Gratitude
My Story: A Veteran Journey
Tech, Tech, Tech Me Out
The Takeover Continues: "Recruiting, Supporting , Empowering, and Advocating for First Gen Students" with Dr. Ashley Benson
OurFor the latest updates on this celebration, follow OCC TRIO SSS on Facebook and Instagram, use #PowerInOurVoice, and visit their website to show your support!
